ANAHEIM, Calif. — Niklas Backstrom understands the comparison. But he doesn’t think there are too many similarities.

Eight years ago, Backstrom got his first NHL opportunity when starting goalie Manny Fernandez suffered an injury. Backstrom ran with the chance. And he has been the Wild’s starting goalie ever since.

This season, Backstrom has predominantly watched from the bench as Darcy Kuemper — a 23-year-old rookie who entered the season as the organization’s No. 3 goalie — has taken over the reins of late. Saturday night, Kuemper started his seventh straight game for the Wild. He’ll likely get the start Tuesday night.

Backstrom has earned praise from teammates and coaches as he walks the fine line of trying to earn back a starting role while supporting what’s best for the team, which currently is Kuemper.

Since Kuemper took over the starting role, Backstrom has given him rides to lunches and team events. They sit next to each other in the locker room and Backstrom shares tips before games. Thursday night, when Kuemper’s mask broke and his backup mask was still in Iowa, Backstrom let Kuemper borrow his custom-fitted mask so he could continue playing against the Blackhawks.

“We talk a lot, just not about that sort of thing,” Kuemper said. “I don’t really know details about his career or whatever.”

Backstrom pointed out that while their career arches may look similar, they have very different backgrounds.

Backstrom didn’t play in the NHL until he was 28, after spending time playing in his home country of Finland. He signed a one-year contract as an undrafted free agent. Kuemper has been in the Wild’s organization since 2009.

“So it’s different when you look at him, a draft pick in the NHL,” Backstrom said. “It’s tough to compare different situations.”

Backstrom has received praise for handling his new role in a season that started with plenty of promise after inking a three-year deal.

But three games into the season, he suffered a sprained knee, the start of an injury-riddled season. Josh Harding grabbed the No. 1 role after Backstrom’s first injury.

But Harding has been sidelined because of adjustments to his multiple sclerosis medication and Backstrom hasn’t been healthy enough to resume his starting role.

A week ago, Backstrom received his second cortisone shot in three weeks and continues to deal with soreness from sports hernia surgery he underwent over the summer.

“It feels OK,” Backstrom said. “Whenever you have a surgery, it’s always going to take time to get your strength, get your range of motion and mobility back so it always takes time. … Hopefully, I’ll see the effects of the shots and it should be better.”

This season, what Backstrom has done away from the ice has been as beneficial to the Wild as what he’s done on it.

He is the main reason the Wild have avoided an awkward situation in the locker room with a rookie taking the starting reins.

“It could be uncomfortable for Kuemper if Backstrom wasn’t handling it as well as he has,” coach Mike Yeo said. “He’s giving (Kuemper) a chance to come to the rink and just be able to focus on himself and continue that confident feeling that he has.

“Backstrom has been very supportive of him. It’s quite impressive, really.”

Through just 20 games this season, Backstrom has a 5-10 record, .899 save percentage and 3.02 goals-against average — all of which would be career worsts. For much of this season, though, he has played hurt.

But there is a fine line between mentor and competitor. Backstrom has made it clear that he wants to return to the net.

For now, though, it’s Kuemper’s cage to lose. In similar fashion to what Backstrom did eight years ago, Kuemper has taken over.

Backstrom is prepared to continue mentoring Kuemper while getting himself ready for game action.

“That’s part of being a goalie,” he said. “Like every goalie, when you get a chance, you want to play as much as you can.”

Chad Graff joined the Pioneer Press in April of 2013 -- long enough to cover three straight Wild playoff exits at the hands of the Blackhawks -- after working for the Philadelphia Inquirer and Boston Globe. He's lived in California and Texas, but most recently spent a decade in New Hampshire. He watched New England fans celebrate seven championships in his time there, yet somehow his only sports allegiance lies with Nebraska football.

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